Salon belt system

ABSTRACT

A belt system is designed for use by salon workers to manage a variety of the heavy and/or bulky containers and implements used for cutting, coloring, perms, hair treatments, and any other table-free cosmetologist operation. The belt system can be a worn belt system that can be removably secured about a waist of a user. Alternatively, the belt system can be a salon chair belt system, where a belt is disposed about the back and sides of a salon chair. In either embodiment, the belt can have a hook and loop fastener disposed on its outer surface. One or more detachable equipment holders, having a hook and loop fastener, can be removably attached to the belt. In each embodiment, the implements for the cosmetologist can be readily available for convenient access.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/103,650, filed May 9, 2011, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to belts and, more particularly, to beltsfor holding implements used in hair care and related cosmetology work.

Tool-holding belts are well known for use in carpentry, construction,and other tool-intensive trades.

One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,356 to Noriega et al.(Noriega), showing a lumbar support belt having self-fasteninghook-and-loop end sections, and different kinds of article-holdingdevices with mating hook-and-loop backings that mate with thehook-and-loop sections of the belt. The larger of the article-holdingdevices is a pouch that requires a strap system for connection with thebelt, and the hook-and-loop backing on the pouch appears to be providedto prevent movement that the straps alone cannot. The belt has a largeintermediate elastic section connecting the two substantiallynon-elastic end sections. The large elastic section draws thenon-elastic end sections securely against the wearer's waist, capturesthe straps of the pouch between the non-elastic sections and thewearer's waist, and presses against the lumbar portion of the wearer'sback, presumably for lumbar support.

Construction tool belts, however, are not suitable for the salon workenvironment or for salon implements. They are too bulky, tooinconvenient for frequently swapping equipment on and off the belt, andnot designed to hold salon implements in a convenient, stable, andcomfortable manner.

Salon chairs offer no assistance for holding salon implements. Toooften, a cosmetologist finds themselves walking around the chair andclient to swap equipment disposed on a shelf or rack mounted on thewall.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system that can allow acosmetologist to have convenient access to a plurality of salonimplements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an equipment-holding belt systemfor a salon worker comprises a belt which includes a non-elastic,stiffened non-folding section having an outer end, the stiffenednon-folding section including a majority of the belt's circumference;and a movement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end ofthe stiffened non-folding section; and at least one detachableequipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffenednon-folding section of the belt.

In another aspect of the present invention, a user-wornequipment-holding belt system for a salon worker comprises a belt whichcomprises a non-elastic, stiffened non-folding section having an outerend, the stiffened non-folding section including a majority of thebelt's circumference; a movement-enhancing elastic section connected toan inner end of the stiffened non-folding section; and a non-stiffened,non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to the stiffened non-foldingsection's outer end; and at least one detachable equipment-holderdetachably secured to an outer face of the stiffened non-folding sectionof the belt, wherein at least a portion of the stiffened non-foldingsection's outer face is faced with hook-and-loop fastening material; andthe equipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel backed withhook-and-loop fastening material that detachably secures to thehook-and-loop fastening material on the stiffened non-folding section.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a chair-attachedequipment-holding belt system comprises a belt comprising a rigid orsemi-rigid member having hook and loop fastener material disposedthereupon; and at least one detachable equipment-holder detachablysecured to an outer face of the hook and loop fastener material of thebelt, wherein the belt is disposed about a back portion of a salon chairand extends above arm members of the salon chair, wherein belt system isa salon chair belt system.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a worn belt system according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, worn by a user;

FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the worn belt system ofFIG. 1, illustrating the removable attachment of articles holdersthereupon;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the worn belt system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of the worn belt system of FIG. 1,illustrating removal of the belt from the user;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a salon chair belt system according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a top view of the salon chair belt system of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a belt systemdesigned for use by salon workers to manage a variety of the heavyand/or bulky containers and implements used for cutting, coloring,perms, hair treatments, and any other table-free cosmetologistoperation. The belt system can be a worn belt system that can beremovably secured about a waist of a user. Alternatively, the beltsystem can be a salon chair belt system, where a belt is disposed aboutthe back and sides of a salon chair. In either embodiment, the belt canhave a hook and loop fastener disposed on its outer surface. One or moredetachable equipment holders, having a hook and loop fastener, can beremovably attached to the belt. In each embodiment, the implements forthe cosmetologist can be readily available for convenient access.

The belt of the worn belt system can include a continuous, non-elastic,non-folding stiffened body section having an outer end, the stiffenedbody section comprising the majority of the belt's circumference; amovement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of thestiffened body section; and a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure endthat connects to the stiffened section's outer end.

The detachable equipment-holder is adapted to be attached to anddetached from the face of the belt. In an exemplary embodiment, theequipment-holder includes a flexible attachment panel and anequipment-holding retainer portion, the retainer portion being locatedbelow an upper end of the attachment panel. In another embodiment, theretainer portion includes a flexible fabric retainer with a sidewall anda partially open bottom, and further with one or more support strapsdefining the bottom of the retainer at a location spaced from thesidewall. In a further embodiment, the support straps form a Tconfiguration with an open front.

In an exemplary embodiment of the worn belt system of the presentinvention, the outer face of the outer end of the belt and the innerface of the second end are faced with mating hook-and-loop material. Inone embodiment, the outer face of the stiffened body is also faced withhook-and-loop material as the attachment means, and the equipment-holderhas an inner face (the inner face of the attachment panel) supplied withmating hook-and-loop material so that it can be pressed onto and removedfrom the stiffened body's outer face.

In an exemplary embodiment of the salon chair belt system of the presentinvention, the belt can be designed similar to that described above,except that the ends of the belt need not be designed to interconnect.The chair belt system can be disposed about the back and sides of thechair. The “belt” of the chair belt system can be attached to the chairin various manners. In some embodiments, the hook and loop fastener ofthe belt can be disposed on a rigid or semi-flexible member that can bebuilt in to the back of the salon chair or attached to the back of thesalon chair, typically near or at a top portion of the back of the salonchair, and can curve about the sides of the chair, typically above thechair arms, thereby not interfering with the arms of a client sitting inthe chair. The chair belt system can be designed as an add-on to anexisting salon chair, or may be integrated into a salon chair at thetime of manufacture.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a worn belt system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is shown being worn by a salonworker W. The system includes a belt 10, and one or more detachableequipment holders 18 for holding and supporting various salonimplements, supplies, tools and the like (hereafter “equipment”) such asproduct cup C, perm paper dispenser box B, and spray bottle S. It willbe understood that detachable holders 18 can be modified to hold mosttypes of equipment that a salon worker may need to have at-hand whenstanding and working on a client's hair or other needs in a table-freehair care task. Other equipment for which holders 18 can be used ormodified include styling irons, perm bags, shear/razor/comb holders,clippers, brushes, and foil dispensers, without limitation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, illustrated belt 10 includes a stiffenedmain body section 12 with an outer end 12 a, an inner end 12 b, an outerface 12 c, and a non-folding insert or backing 13 that is substantiallycontiguous with inner and outer fabric layers between which it is fixed,and that substantially prevents main body 12 from folding about itslengthwise axis A (shown in broken lines). The torsional (twisting orfolding) stiffness of belt section 12 makes it difficult for upper edge12 e and lower edge 12 f to be folded to any significant degree towardone another, and for outer face 12 c to be folded or creased inwardly oroutwardly by a salon worker's movements when the belt 10 is being worn.Stiffened section 12 is accordingly “non-folding” in this sense.

The non-folding insert 13 can be multiple layers of stiff cloth such as(but not limited to) “sailcloth”, which is a very stiff fabric; a sheetof longitudinally flexible but torsionally stiff plastic material; orany other structure that allows the belt 10 to be curved around thewearer's waist and fastened closely and securely to the body, whilepreventing the outer face 12 c from folding while being worn. Thenon-folding insert can be secured between the inner and outer faces ofthe belt by sewing, gluing, or otherwise fixing it between inner andouter layers of fabric. It might also be possible, depending on theinsert material, to have a two-layer construction in which the insertforms the inside face of stiffened belt section 12, without an innercovering layer of fabric.

Belt 10 can also include an elastic section 14 secured to the inner end12 b of the stiffened main body 12, and a non-elastic, non-stiffenedclosure portion 16 secured to the other side of elastic 14 and formingthe other end of belt 10. Closure end 16 is typically shorter thanstiffened section 12, and elastic section 14 is typically shorter thanclosure end 16. Closure end 16 can be detachably secured to the outerend 12 a with various means, but in the illustrated embodiment, theinner face 16 b of closure end 16 is faced with a hook-and-loopmaterial, and the outer face 12 c of outer end 12 a is faced with amating portion of hook-and-loop material. The connection between closureend 16 and outer end 12 a of the stiffened belt section 12 is infinitelyadjustable over the length of closure end 16 for a secure and customfit. When closure portion 16 is secured to the outer face of stiffenedend 12 a, elastic section 14 may be stretched somewhat for a snug fit,although it should not be tensioned to its full extent. Different sizesof belt are possible where the adjustability inherent in the elasticportion 14 is not enough.

It should be understood that although elastic section 14 is shown as asolid section of fabric material, it could be discontinuous, for examplein the form of spaced straps or bands of elastic material. The same istrue of closure end 16. Stiffened section 12 might also be non-solid,for example with perforations or interruptions in the material forweight-reduction or ventilation, but only to the extent that it does notcompromise the non-folding nature of section 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a chair belt system can include a belt10-1 attached to a salon chair 42 or other similar seat for a clientreceiving services from a cosmetologist. In some embodiments, the belt10-1 can be formed from a rigid or semi-rigid member having hook andloop fastener material 48, or the like, disposed thereupon.

The belt 10-1 can extend about a back 44 of the chair 42 and can extendabove the arms 50 of the chair 42. At least one support 40 can bedisposed from ends of each belt 10-1 and can attach to a base 46 of thechair 42. In some embodiments, more than one support 40 may be disposedon each side of the belt 10-1.

The belt 10-1 can be disposed along a top edge of the back 44 of thechair 44 so that the belt 10-1 is well above the arms 50. In thisconfiguration, the belt 10-1 can provide a surface for the holders 18 toremovably attach, while not interfering with the client in the chair 42.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, holders 18 are detachably secured toouter face 12 c of stiffened main body portion 12. The means forattaching can vary, but the illustrated embodiment uses hook-and-loopfasteners, with most or all of the outer face 12 c faced with ahook-and-loop fastening material (for example, the “female” loop half),and inner faces of the holders 18 faced with a mating hook-and-loopfastening material (for example, the “male” hook half).

Illustrated holders 18 are constructed according to exemplary forms inwhich they comprise flexible fabric attachment panels 20 backed on theirinner faces with hook-and-loop fastening material. The stiffened portion12 of the belt is typically wide enough to bridge the wearer's waistbetween their hips and abdomen, for example on the order of three to sixinches wide from upper edge to lower edge, and the attachment panels 20are sized typically to be substantially fully mated with the outer face12 c of stiffened belt section 12. Holders 18 also include equipmentretainer portions 22 secured to the front faces of attachment panels 20.Attachment panels 20 are also sized typically to be as wide or widerthan their equipment retainer portions 22, and to have upper edges 20 aspaced above the upper edges 23 of retainer portions 22. Attachmentpanels 20 allow the salon worker to attach even heavy, bulky items tobelt 10 with one hand, by simply pressing the attachment panel 20 to theouter face of stiffened belt section 12.

Retainer portions 22 of holders 18 can be rigid retainers, such as aspray bottle cup 22 s, or they can be flexible retainers such as afabric perm paper pouch 22 p or a fabric product cup retainer 22 c.Retainer portions can have closed rigid or flexible bottoms, such asshown in retainers of cup 22 s and pouch 22 p, respectively, or openbottoms as shown in retainer 22 c. Retainer portions 22 can be securedto flexible attachment panels 20 in various ways, for example withadhesive, sewing, or mechanical connectors, depending on the materialand shape of the retainer portion 22.

Retainer portion 22 c represents an exemplary embodiment especiallyuseful and stable for heavy, rigid containers, such as product cup C,for holding contents that could splash or spill during use or when beinginserted or removed in holder 18. Retainer portion 22 c can be made froma flexible fabric such as nylon, and includes a sidewall 24, an openbottom with flexible fabric support straps 26 for retaining the bottomof the product cup C. Straps 26 can be arranged in a T configuration,with a cross-strap 28 a running from one side to another, and a forestrap 28 b running from attachment panel 20 forwardly to a junction withcross-strap 28 a. The T-configuration of straps 26 leaves an open frontarea 32, and spaces at the bottom of the retainer portion 22 c fromsidewall 24. Sidewall 24 may be split, for example at 24 a, to be openedup to receive the cup C from the front, and with a hook-and-loop closureto secure it in place around the cup. A pull tab may be disposed at theend of the retainer portion 22 c to assist the user to open and closethe retainer portion 22 c.

The spacing of retainer portions 22 below the upper edges of theattachment panels 20 has been found to keep the items being held inholders 18 very stable during use, with pull tabs to improve access tothe items as they are needed, and makes it easier to attach and detachthe holders 18 with one hand, even when equipment such as spray bottles,perm paper boxes, product cups, and other items are in the holders 18.

Attachment panels 20 can optionally be provided with assist tabs such aspull tabs 20 b, useful for removing the panels 20 from the face of belt10 and belt 10-1.

The fabrics and other materials used in the belt system comprising belt10 and holders 18 can vary, and heavy-duty nylons, polyesters, andcanvas materials are possible options. Plastics are preferred where morerigid materials are needed, although other rigid materials could beused. The definition of “fabric” should be construed broadly.

While hook-and-loop is shown as the primary attachment means fordetachably securing equipment holders 18 to belt 10 and belt 10-1, otherconnectors may be possible, either in place of the hook-and-loopfasteners or in addition to the hook-and-loop fasteners. Magnetic,mechanical (e.g., snaps), or re-usable adhesive or static-cling typeconnections might be possible.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION

In one embodiment, the belt 10 is worn by salon worker W, who wraps theunsecured ends 12 a and 16 around his or her waist, and fastens closureend 16 to outer stiffened end 12 a so that the belt is snug. In anotherembodiment, the belt 10-1 is attached to the salon chair 42, either asan integrated unit from manufacture, or as an add-on to an existingchair.

In either embodiment, equipment holders 18 can be applied before thebelt 10 is put on (in the worn belt embodiment), but more likely will beattached after the belt 10 is secured around the waist (or to the chair42). The hook-and-loop attachment panels 20 allow the holders 18 to beattached to the belt whether the holders are holding equipment or not,easily with one hand. Holders 18 can be re-positioned virtuallyinfinitely about the circumference of stiffened portion 12, for a customfit and placement suited to the salon worker's preference.

The stiff, non-folding nature of main body 12 ensures that holders 18cannot be accidentally popped or peeled off by the salon worker'smovements, and are held in a stable and secure manner. Elastic section14 provides enough localized flexibility to let the salon worker bend atthe waist when needed. Non-elastic, non-stiffened closure end provides asecure, adjustable, custom-length fit around the waist withoutcompromising the function of stiffened portion 12 or elastic section 14.Elastic section 14 does not need to be stretched when fitting andsecuring the belt around the waist in order to function properly, sincelength adjustments are made with the adjustable overlap between closureend 16 and outer end 12 a of stiffened section 12. In normal use,elastic section 14 is substantially un-tensioned or only partiallytensioned until the salon worker bends at the waist, at which point ityields or stretches an additional amount to allow some bending movementwithout placing strain on the stiffened section 12.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An equipment-holding belt system for a salonworker, comprising: a belt comprising: a non-elastic, stiffenednon-folding section having an outer end, the stiffened non-foldingsection including a majority of the belt's circumference; and amovement-enhancing elastic section connected to an inner end of thestiffened non-folding section; and at least one detachableequipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffenednon-folding section of the belt.
 2. The equipment-holding belt system ofclaim 1, further comprising a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure endadapted to connect to the stiffened non-folding section's outer end,wherein the belt system is a belt system configured to be worn by auser.
 3. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein: at leasta portion of the stiffened non-folding section's outer face is facedwith hook-and-loop fastening material; and the equipment-holder includesa flexible attachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening materialthat detachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on thestiffened non-folding section.
 4. The equipment-holding belt system ofclaim 3, wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipment retainerportion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper end of theflexible attachment panel.
 5. The equipment-holding belt system of claim3, wherein: the portion of the outer face of the stiffened non-foldingsection faced with the hook-and-loop material is faced substantiallycontinuously with the hook and loop material over its width from anupper edge to a lower edge; and the flexible attachment panel has aheight substantially equal to the width of the stiffened non-foldingsection and is substantially continuously faced with the mating hook andloop material.
 6. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, whereinthe retainer portion comprises a flexible fabric retainer with aflexible fabric sidewall and a partially open bottom.
 7. Theequipment-holding belt system of claim 6, wherein one or more supportstraps define the bottom of the retainer at a location spaced from thesidewall.
 8. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 7, wherein thesupport straps form a T configuration with an open front.
 9. Theequipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein the outer face of theouter end of the belt and the inner face of the closure end are facedwith mating hook-and-loop material and are infinitely adjustable over alength corresponding to the inner face of the closure end.
 10. Theequipment-holding belt system of claim 9, wherein the elastic section isless than fully tensioned when the belt is secured about the waist. 11.The equipment-holding belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt isdisposed about a back portion of a salon chair and extends above armmembers of the salon chair, wherein belt system is a salon chair beltsystem.
 12. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 11, wherein thebelt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at endsthereof.
 13. The equipment-holding belt system of claim 11, wherein thebelt is attached to an upper portion of the back portion of the salonchair.
 14. A user-worn equipment-holding belt system for a salon worker,comprising: a belt comprising: a non-elastic, stiffened non-foldingsection having an outer end, the stiffened non-folding section includinga majority of the belt's circumference; a movement-enhancing elasticsection connected to an inner end of the stiffened non-folding section;and a non-stiffened, non-elastic closure end adapted to connect to thestiffened non-folding section's outer end; and at least one detachableequipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of the stiffenednon-folding section of the belt, wherein at least a portion of thestiffened non-folding section's outer face is faced with hook-and-loopfastening material; and the equipment-holder includes a flexibleattachment panel backed with hook-and-loop fastening material thatdetachably secures to the hook-and-loop fastening material on thestiffened non-folding section.
 15. The user-worn equipment-holding beltsystem of claim 14, wherein the equipment-holder includes an equipmentretainer portion, and the retainer portion is located below an upper endof the flexible attachment panel.
 16. The user-worn equipment-holdingbelt system of claim 14, wherein: the portion of the outer face of thestiffened non-folding section faced with the hook-and-loop material isfaced substantially continuously with the hook and loop material overits width from an upper edge to a lower edge; and the flexibleattachment panel has a height substantially equal to the width of thestiffened non-folding section and is substantially continuously facedwith the mating hook and loop material.
 17. The user-wornequipment-holding belt system of claim 14, wherein the retainer portioncomprises a flexible fabric retainer with a flexible fabric sidewall anda partially open bottom.
 18. A chair-attached equipment-holding beltsystem comprising: a belt comprising a rigid or semi-rigid member havinghook and loop fastener material disposed thereupon; at least onedetachable equipment-holder detachably secured to an outer face of thehook and loop fastener material of the belt, wherein the belt isdisposed about a back portion and a side portion of a salon chair,wherein the belt system is a salon chair belt system.
 19. Thechair-attached equipment-holding belt system of claim 18, wherein thebelt is supported from a base portion of the salon chair at endsthereof.
 20. The chair-attached equipment-holding belt system of claim18, wherein the belt is attached to an upper portion of the back portionof the salon chair.